DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – Leaders from Duluth’s nonprofit, business and downtown communities came together Tuesday morning to announce a new collaborative effort.
One they say is designed to strengthen how the region responds to homelessness, and housing instability.
They hope to make it easier for people to find the support they need across the Twin Ports.
CHUM, the Damiano Center, and Union Gospel Mission—three of the Twin Ports’ key homelessness-service organizations—say they’re joining forces in a major collaborative initiative, designed to function like a triage hub that helps people move from crisis to a clearer path toward stability.
Downtown Duluth president Kristie Stokes said, “over the years, it has really felt like our business community and our social services at times have been at odds. And so, this was really an opportunity to come together and show what can happen when everyone sits at the table.”
The partnership brings together the three legacy organizations—with downtown and business leaders backing the effort.
The goal is one coordinated system—cutting overlap and closing gaps—as homelessness in St. Louis County has climbed 157% in the past decade.
Executive director at the Damiano Center said, “there’s a critical gap between crisis and long-term stability, we need a structural reset.”
Leaders say the path to help is confusing—especially in a crisis—but now people won’t have to wonder where to go.
Executive director at Union Gospel Mission Katie Hagglund said, “Union Gospel Mission will start serving as the triage, the point of entry for folks that are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.”
And they’re calling this merge the “Pathway Forward.” There will be three phases to this new merged mission.
Phase one is currently underway with planning and alignment being the focus. In a year, phase two will begin with major transition and expansion efforts. After that, Phase three will see a full system integration.
“The goal of this is to remove duplication and help to realign staff and structure operations, and to ease the impact on area businesses and first responder services,” said Currier.
This plan means that all three organizations will be transitioning to a single coordinated system with shared back-end services.
For example, after 140 years of being the main meal provider, Union Gospel Mission will no longer be handling the preparation of meals for the community. The Damiano Center will be making all of the meals, and all three locations will serve the exact same food at the same time each day.
Leaders want to boost shelter beds from 157 to more than 300, add 46 permanent supportive housing units, and expand on-site medical support for those who need it most.
Part of this plan includes bringing in additional social service professionals. In addition, they will be rotating medical providers between buildings to offer targeted care.
For someone like Tim Carlson who has experienced homelessness firsthand, the services these organizations provide are crucial, but he wishes there had been an emphasis on addiction treatment programs before now.
“I think that’s great, a rehab program for people like me that are addicts,” said Carlson.
From the chamber perspective, this is a necessary move for both the unhoused members of our community and for the ones who would like to see the downtown area become safer and more welcoming.
Operations specialist for the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Ellie Pessenda said, “communities move forward when they are willing to confront difficult challenges together, and that is exactly what this collaboration represents.”
Leaders say this merger could take a few years to fully roll out, as the organizations await key funding to complete planned expansions and building relocations.
For example, Union Gospel Mission says it’s currently seeking state bonding to help fund its first floor—and there’s less than a week left in the legislative session to get that approved.
But this collaboration is just one piece of a broader, multi-year push to revitalize downtown Duluth.
There’s another new effort: the Duluth Economic Development Authority is rolling out First Street Growth Grants—up to $500 for First Street building owners and businesses to pay for small improvements and public-facing activities aimed at making the corridor more vibrant and inviting.
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